hamstring cramping

[Guest guest]

,

It is my experience that cramping is as much a mechanical problem of

the low back as it is a physiological dysfunction. It is fine

re-hydrating, if the electrolyte balance is not correct, but if you

have a back problem causing very mild nerve compression ( L4/L5 disc,

or Spondylolysthesis, facet joint wear), then, in certain

circumstances you will experience cramp. The cramp is brought on by

the structural deformity impinging the nerve - but only when you place

the spine in a compromising position. For a damaged disc, this might

be forward flexion, for facet joint wear and spondylolystheses this

would be spinal extension. The only real way to figure this out is to

have an MRI scan but, there is nothing you can do about it once you

find out if this is the case. I might suggest that combative sport is

not for the older sportsman as it tends to compound issues such as the

one I am describing. It might also be worth noting that, in the UK,

around 1:11 people have a spondylolysthesis, most of whom have no idea

it exists and, unless you want to be on the " Elite " squad, it will not

have much of an effect on your day to day living.

Kendall Chew.

Cheshire. UK.

[Guest guest]

,

It could be that the muscles of your low back, and especially your glutes are

not firing properly, or fully, causing the hamstrings to be overworked. 

Personally- glute bridges always caused my hamstrings to cramp up, doing them

with a band placed around the knees and pushing out slightly takes care of

this.  I would try some double leg and single leg glute bridges, also lateral

resisted band walks- these will activate the glutes.  Certainly worth a try..

Mark , MS, ATC, CSCS

Syracuse, NY

________________________________

From: <smitty95153@...>

Supertraining

Sent: Monday, May 21, 2012 5:20 AM

Subject: Hamstring cramping

 

To the Supertraining group,

I would appreciate it if anybody has a suggestion or

suggestions for the following situation. 

I am a 52 year old former college football player who practices,

jogging, martial arts, weightlifting, and numerous other activities.  Ever

since I was in my twenties if I lie face

down in a prone position and I try and bring one of my heels to my glute’s, my

hamstring on the leg lifted will automatically cramp.  My hamstrings will also

cramp after I have

been exercising for a while.  I have

tried several things to combat this situation, chiropractic work, deep tissue

massage, static stretching, PNF stretching, ballistic stretching, and

acupuncture.  I have also been conscious of hydrating

really well as well as taking magnesium supplements in order to combat the

cramping.  Please advise, thirty years of

leg cramps has taken its toll on me.

 

Thanks in advance for your suggestions,

 

[Guest guest]

Mr. I agree with Mark with his " It could be that the muscles

of your low back, and especially your glutes are not firing properly, or fully,

causing the hamstrings to be overworked. " The hamstrings are muscles that

serve two purposes that are opposed to each other. One purpose is for

locomotion that would want a fast twitch fiber muscle that can stretch for more

powerful quick firing. The other purpose is for postural maintenance. The

hamstring crosses from the hip to the lower leg or two joints. After being born

your Spine is supposed to over the next 18 years develop an upright S-shape

neutral spine posture. When this happens correctly your center of mass drops

down through the hip bones. When this happens your hamstrings do not have to

expend any work when in the upright posture and they can develop the fast twitch

flexible at rest muscle you need. However to the degree you did not adapt the

S-shape is the degree to which your upper trunk center of mass falls anterior to

the hips and to this degree your hamstrings, while in the upright posture must

be be constantly working to keep your trunk upright. This leads to a hamstring

that is a slow twitch constantly firing muscle that from the literature, I have

found, in this state the actin myosin fibers (hope I am saying this right)

actually start to glue together and therefore become this chronically inflexible

muscle that will not stretch.

In pro football for instance there is sayings like once hamstring problem

always a hamstring problem. This condition is a postural problem and until the

postural problem is corrected the hamstring will just remain inflexible as it is

doing its job.

Scherger

Vancouver Washington USA